Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Adopt-A-Shark

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CARACAS, Sep 15 2002 (IPS) - A science foundation is proposing the “adoption” of sharks as a way to raise funds for research and environmental management aimed at benefiting this fish species in Venezuela's Los Roques archipelago, one of the most important shark habitats in the Caribbean. Those who would like to be the sponsor of a baby shark would pay the equivalent of 11 dollars a year. In exchange, “they can give the shark, which will be previously marked, whatever name they want. They will receive information about the changes in the size and weight of their adoptee,” explains Rafael Tavares, coordinator of the initiative.

The Los Roques Scientific Foundation launched its shark conservation program in 1995 to broaden knowledge about the 21 species that live in the Venezuelan archipelago's waters and to control shark-fishing activities.